Navy Halifax-Class Frigate Archive

[Nilgiri]

Canada Signs ISS Contract with Thales Canada to Support Halifax-class Radar Systems

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www.canadiandefencereview.com

Canada’s Halifax-class multi-role patrol frigates are the backbone of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Making sure that these ships have and maintain modern equipment is key to ensuring our navy can continue its important work.

Today, Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan announced an in-service support contract with Thales Canada, of Ottawa, Ontario, to support the SMART-S MK2 radar system used on Canada’s Halifax-class frigates, starting in fall 2020. Valued at $4.6 million (including taxes), this contract will provide critical engineering, in-service support, and repair and overhaul services to ensure the radar remains operationally capable of detecting the location and range of possible air and surface threats up to 250 km away.

The SMART-S MK2 radar is the primary tactical radar used on the Halifax-class frigates, and was installed as part of the Halifax-class Modernization Project. It is a medium-to-long-range 3-D radar that provides air and surface surveillance capabilities to the RCN’s Halifax-class frigates. Keeping our Halifax-class frigates operational and at the height of modern technology is critical for maintaining the combat readiness of the RCN until the arrival of the Canadian Surface Combatant ships.

“The continued support of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigates is an important aspect of Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. The Halifax-class frigates are considered to be the backbone of the RCN. As maritime threats continue to evolve, this investment in equipment will provide our people in uniform with the tools they need, to continue protecting Canadians and supporting peace and security missions at home and abroad.” The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of National Defence

“We are providing the members in uniform with the equipment they need to carry out their important work. This in-service support contract is another example of our commitment to provide the Royal Canadian Navy with the technology it needs to continue protecting and serving Canadians.” The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement

“Investing in our local industry is now more important than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic. By supporting companies like Thales here in the National Capital Region, our government is continuing to grow local Ottawa-based industry, while also providing the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces with the resources they need.” Anita Vandenbeld, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence

(More info at link)

 

[Nilgiri]

GDMS – Canada Wins ISS Contract for Halifax-Class Combat Systems​

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GDMS – Canada Wins ISS Contract for Halifax-Class Combat Systems

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www.canadiandefencereview.com

The Government of Canada has awarded a contract to General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada, from Ottawa, Ontario, for in-service support on 6 Halifax-class combat systems (HCCS). The HCCS are an integral component of the entire fleet of Halifax-class ships and will require in-service support until the arrival of the Canadian Surface Combatants.

This initial contract is valued at approximately $182 million (including taxes) over 6 years, and will maintain up to 106 jobs.

The Halifax-class frigates monitor and control Canadian waters, defend Canada's sovereignty, facilitate large-scale search and rescue activities, and provide emergency assistance when needed. Introduced into service in the 1990s, the Canadian-built Halifax-class frigates were recently modernized to remain operationally effective and relevant until the Canadian Surface Combatants enter into service.

(more at link)

 

[oldcpu]

This thread has been quiet for a while, and the Halifax class frigates have gone through an update.

I confess I was a bit curious about the Rheinmetall MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill System) implementation on the Halifax Class frigate.

I believe the MASS (generically) dependent on procurement options, can be procured with different configurable options such as MASS_DUERAS, MASS_OCR and OmniTrap/OmniTrap ER and even MASS_ATD. However I suspect it unlikely the RCN has adopted a MASS system that supports all these types.

MASS_DUERAS : Reading up on this leads me to understand that the DUERAS ammunition (either 82mm or 118mm - not clear to me which) is intended to provide a long-range distraction capability by deploying chaff clouds early in a missile’s flight to prevent a seeker lock-on. It "may" require separate tubes provided with the more standard MASS system (this is not clear to me).

MASS_OCR : In contrast, the MASS_OCR (Offboard Corner Reflector) is a more technologically advanced 118 mm round that launches a parachute-suspended corner reflector, that provides a ‘persistent radar target’ (via corner reflection) while descending under parachute, and ends up being positioned at or just above the sea surface for a limited duration. It is not yet clear to me how effective if at all, MASS_OCR remains once it lands on and possibly floats in the water. The descriptions I read speculate it may be superior to DUERAS for seducing modern "intelligent" or LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) radars.

MASS_OmniTrap and MASS_OmniTrap ER : Finally, the MASS_OmniTrap variants are an 81mm "multispectral" launched system consisting of:
- An anti-radar (RF) component that utilizes chaff (aluminized glass fibers);
- An infrared (IR) component consisting of a payload of red phosphorus where I speculate it is "spectrally matched" to approximate a ship's heat signature; and
- An anti-laser/anti-Electro-Optical (EO)/anti-Ultraviolet component that I speculate also utilizes a red phosphorus payload to obscure the ship.
- Together, these OmniTrap variant rounds simultaneously cover radar, IR, Laser, and EO wavelengths to decoy sophisticated imaging seekers (where OmniTrap ER is likely an extended range variant). I suspect the RCN has officially integrated both DUERAS and an OmniTrap variant into the Halifax-class as part of the fleet-wide triple-launcher upgrade.

MASS_ATD (anti-torpedo): To utilize this ammunition, separate dedicated 130mm launcher tubes need to be added to the MASS platform. MASS_ATD is launched to a designated position away from the ship. Once in the water, the decoy emits acoustic signals designed to counter both passive and active homing torpedoes. Against passive torpedoes, it mimics the ship's noise signature (engine sounds, propeller cavitation). Against active torpedoes, it generates broadband jamming signals and creates false acoustic targets to saturate the torpedo's sonar and data processing, causing it to expend its energy pursuing false targets. It is not clear to me if the MASS decoy mode (mimicking the ship and generating broadband jamming) needs to be configured prior to launch.

The RCN Halifax class frigate has the SLQ-25 Nixie system, so I speculate it may be possible to use MASS_ATD in conjunction with the SLQ-25. Note the word 'speculation' in my assessment.

I do not as of yet know which MASS ammunition variants the RCN has procurred (some sources suggest only both MASS_OmniTrap and MASS_DUERAS were procured by the RCN with no reference to the other types). Further the degree of which CMS-330 is coded to function with different mass ammunition variants other than OmniTrap and DUERAS is unknown to me from what I can find in unclassified press. I suspect CMS-330 software upgrades may be required to take advantage of every type of MASS ammunition.